Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/157038
BUILDING ON THE DEATH OF DOMA Image courtesy of eqfl.org LGBT GROUP PUSHES AHEAD TOWARD FUNDRAISING GOAL By Cooper Levey-Baker Associate Editor Hoping to build off the blast of energy delivered to the marriage equality movement by the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), local representatives of Equality Florida, the state's biggest LGBT civil rights organization, are inviting supporters to a Host Committee kickoff party next Wednesday, Aug. 28. Equality board member and former Sarasota City Commissioner Ken Shelin, who has become a vocal proponent of LGBT rights via domestic partnership registries in recent years, says the goal is to raise $100,000 in the Sarasota area in 2013. Good news: The organization is more than halfway there. Shelin credits individual generosity, as well as the support of The reception, to be held at Northern Trust major businesses such as U.S. Trust, JetBlue in Sarasota, is the first in a pair of events de- and Citibank for the group's success so far. signed to encourage folks to join Equality's Gala Host Committee, which is responsible "We know a lot of people, obviously, and we're for putting together a Sarasota fundraising growing, but we'd like to grow more," Shelin blowout on Nov. 10. says. "There's still a lot that needs to be done."